Fierce fighting has erupted in Kyaukphyu, a strategic port city in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, as the Arakan Army advances against the military junta. The city is vital to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, hosting key oil and gas pipelines and infrastructure. China has deployed private security personnel to protect its investments. Over 40,000 civilians have been displaced amid escalating violence. Control of Kyaukphyu now symbolizes not just local power, but also a geopolitical contest for influence between regional and global powers.